2005 Journey. Kohler generator starting

[Potomac Man]

2005 Journey. Kohler generator only starts if engine is running from all three toggle switch locations. Op manual says generator is independent of chassis battery (just replaced last week). Control panel shows house and chassis battery with normal voltage. Without engine running, only hear clicking when engaging toggle switches. Any thoughts??

[Eagle5]

Hi Potomac Man,
I would clean the house batteries connections to see if that helps.
Eagle5

[Morich]

Classis case of not getting enough 12VDC power from the coach battereis to the genset to start.
The reason it starts when engine is running is the coach batteries are tied together with the chassis battery as well as the engine alternator when engine is running!
So the coach battery may be dead or the connections corroded and when the engine comes online, that power is available to start the generator.

If you will post up the model of your RV, we can look at wiring to show where they tie together. That info should be on the label near the driver's seat if model is not known or handy.

[Potomac Man]

It's a 39K.

[Ray,IN]

"Independent of the chassis battery" means it is not connected to chassis battery. That is an unusual way of stating it is connected to the house battery.

[Morich]

This can be confusing a somewhat simple thing as the RV does some automatic things we may not think about.
There is the chassis battery that does the normal car/truck things. and then there is the coach battery and charging that takes care of the coach itmes.

So the chassis system seems to work and as it does there is an automatic solenoid that connect that system to the coach system. The coach system only works when it is getting power through the solenoid and from the chassis system.

That leans toward the coach battery or cables being a problem as they work but only when they get power from the other system.

That means a good look at several points.
1. Is the coach converter actually charging the coach battery when we are plugged into shore power? There is a converter which is fed by either the shore power or generator and makes DC to charge the battery. When on generator or shore power, check the coach batteries and they should show 13-14 volts to charge the battery!

2. Are the coach batteries good enough to take as well as HOLD that power? Are the cables on them good and clean enough? Old, worn out batteries will show 13 volts when charging and for several hours after but if that voltage doesn't stay there, the batteries may be bad. Also it is critical that not only the positive but also the negative cables are making good contact as it takes a full circle to work. Don't skip over checking the negative cable end where it goes down and behind the batteries to the frame as it has to be good!
Keep in mind that the charging is a slow process taking 6-8 hours to get actually up to full charge, even if new and in good shape.

Bottom line? Check coach batteries and cables to make sure they are good!
The click you report is likely the solenopid on the generator starter, getting enough power to close the contacts but not enough power to actually crank the generator by itself!